Locate19 plenaries announced, registrations open

Locate19 has announced its first round of plenary speakers as the event’s agenda begins to take shape.

A diverse set of heavy-hitters from distinct backgrounds forms up the first announcement of the agenda for April’s Locate19.

Leading the charge is Barry Sandison, CEO of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. He’s held the role since June 2016, bringing over 35 years’ experience in the public sector, across 13 agencies. Sandison strongly believes in making better use of government assets and is a champion of open data, and building an ever-growing and accessible evidence base. Since joining the Institute, Mr Sandison’s priorities have been on responding to the December 2015 NOUS Review of the institute. Sandison is board chair for L’Arche Genesaret, an ACT community organisation providing supported accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities.

Edie Bannerman will present a plenary, a youth ambassador with Plan International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to tackling injustice of marginalised children, particularly girls. Her work with Plan includes the Free to Be project, a map of crowdsourced data that has attracted and presented over 21,000 testimonials from girls and young women on sexual violence.

Simon Kuestmacher, a guru of data animation and interpretation, is the director of Research at the Melbourne-based. Demographics Group. Kuestmacher speaks on demographic trends, consumer insights and ‘cultural change’ in Australia, and is becoming a sought-after media commentator with appearances on Sky News, The Project and in The Australian.

Sponsors are taking their places, too. Airbus Defence & Space and Bentley Systems are returning as major sponsors for the 2019 event.

“We are greatly looking forward to being part of the Locate19 conference. It is one of the best conferences for us, as we’re able to meet so many like-minded spatial enthusiasts from different sectors, who are to able share insights with us, helping to drive geospatial technologies forward,” Bentley’s Ilonka Coombes said.

Other sponsors who have signed up to exhibit include Riegl, Vexcel Imaging, Leica Geosystems and 1Spatial, who said they are eagerly anticipating the opportunity.

“We are proud to once again be exhibiting at Locate 2019. We will be demonstrating how our products are used and can be used in a range of industries: from federal, state and local government applications to transport, mining, construction, oil & gas and utility organisations,” said 1Spatial’s Andrej Mocicka.

“As the platinum distribution partner for FME in Australasia, we will also be highlighting the product range of FME and the services that we provide through our FME accredited team.”